Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean of Studies,

I am Julie Ro, a current third-year student and I am writing this letter to request for an appeal to waive the 21-day drop deadline to drop late ARTH 215, ARTH 212, ARTH 253, ENGL 215 (from both 2016-17 academic year and summer 2017), ENGL 290, and CLST 102 from last semester (fall of 2017-18).

I entered Queen¿¿s University in the fall of 2015 with aspirations to major in Education (Concurrent Education) and Art History, but I struggled immensely with my academic goals and had a realization that I wanted to go into English instead as I discovered a bigger passion for discussing and analyzing literature, as well as reading and writing. I took steps to make this academic career change happen, however, I neglected my mental health in the years of 2015 to 2017 as I experienced a series of mentally- and emotionally-taxing events in my personal life. I sunk deeper into what I later found out in Winter 2017 was anxiety, and as it was my first struggle and awareness of my mental health issues, I grew disheartened and did not know to reach out for help. As a result, I experienced many anxiety attacks and physically felt unable to attend classes regularly, and it was to an extent that I could not drag myself out of bed on most days. In that way, I failed many of the Art History courses I took, as well as English courses and seminar, specifically the ones I listed above, which are ARTH 215, ARTH 212, ARTH 253, ENGL 215 (from both 2016-17 academic year and summer 2017), and ENGL 290.

In the late fall/early winter of year 2016-17, I heard about counselling and mental health resources on campus and I took my first step towards recovery and better mental health, and dropped several courses I did not do well in that year. I also bettered my mental health by making significant lifestyle changes suggested by my psychiatrist and counsellor at LaSalle last year, such as regulating my sleep cycle, getting regular exercise, eating properly, and decreasing my caffeine intake. My overall wellbeing had turned around 180 degrees, and I was finally doing so much better this year mentally and emotionally. I think you¿¿d be able to see my struggle and gradual progress in my grades over the course of the past two and half years, and I¿¿ve finally been able to say that I¿¿m proud of my academic performance in my English courses. I am working towards transferring to an English major by the end of the 2017-18 year, and I recently contacted my academic advisors at Con-Ed and Arts and Sciences to figure out my next steps to ensure that I am back on track academically. During those trips, I was made aware that it was not too late to appeal to drop courses as a result of my struggles with mental health from the years before. Unfortunately I encountered a professor this year whose midterm (CLST 102) I had missed as a result of a stressful, anxiety-stricken week in the fall of 2017-18. He was not as receptive as other professors towards my mental health state, even when I explained that I had a week full of anxiety attacks. Only after I got documentation and a letter from Disability Services did the professor believe me, but I was unable to write the midterm worth 25 in time and the stress only added to my anxiety for that specific course. As a result, I failed CLST 102.

I am aware that it is in my best interest to drop these courses from my transcript in order for me to continue in Concurrent Education, and switch over to English. I sincerely hope that my past failures and struggles with mental health will not define me, especially when I am beginning to figure out what works best for me in order to excel mentally and academically. My steps onwards will be to continually and regularly meet with a counsellor (my next appointment is already February 10), continue with my healthier lifestyle, and take an extra academic year in order to take a lighter course load (and with it, lessen the potential for stress and anxiety triggers). I have made my family members and close ones aware of my mental health, and I have a strong support system. I genuinely hope that I will be able to say that I¿¿ve conquered my mental health and perform to the best of my abilities academic-wise, and I hope you are able to see my earnestness in bettering myself. I would love to stay and continue doing what I love, and granting my appeal would enable me to take one big step closer towards my dreams and goals.

Yours Truly,

Julie Ro